Picnic outfit



Sept. 26, 1944. H. ROTHSCHILD PICNIC OUTFIT Filed Aug. 18, 1941 2Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. M

Sept. 26, 1944. RQTHSCHILD 2,358,883

PICNIC OUTFIT Filed Aug. 18, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0 2 (V ,1 v e A uINVENTOR.

Patented Sept. 26, 1944 "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,358,883 PICNICop'rn'r Henry Rothschild, New York, N. Y. Application August 18, 1941,Serial No. 407,310

2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in picnic outfits,and relates more particularly to a novel, self-contained unit which,when closed, resembles a conventional suitcase or traveling bag inexternal appearance, and which, when opened, provides a completelyequipped picnic table with hinged legs, space being provided within thecase for all of the essential articles needed for usual picnicrequirements.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide anovel container having foldable legs of improved construction, andwhich, when the case is open, may be quickly moved into operativeposition, the exterior of the case serving as the table top.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel drawerstructure contained in one of the hinged sections comprising the case,the other section having a novel arrangementfor the reception of theother essential articles for a picnic outfit, including foldable chairs.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of an improvedhinged leg assembly for picnic tables, card tables, and the like,wherein the several pivoted leg structures are capable of being quicklymoved into operative position, and when the case or table is not in use,the leg assembly is readily moved into folded position entirely withinthe confines .of the case or table.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel lockingarrangement for foldable legs employed in connection with tables and thelike.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the case being fully opened and being in usable position.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the case when in closed position.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1 with thehinged legs in folded position.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3, the legs, however,being shown in open position.

Fig. 5 is similar to Fig. 4, but shows the legs in partly foldedposition.

Fig. 6 is a broken section showing the details of the lockingarrangement for the foldable leg assembly- Fig. '7 shows the relation ofthe parts when the spring lock has been depressed.

The case in closed position is shown in Fig. 2 and is designated by thereference character Ill. The case is generally rectangular in shape, andincludes a pair of complemental sections II and I2 which are ofsubstantially the same size and shape, and which are pivotally joinedtogether by means of hinges i3 (Fig. 2). The internal arrangement ofsection ii is shown in Figs. 1 and 3 wherein one of the end walls orgussets i5 is provided with a substantially rectangular opening i6through which a drawer i1 passes. cross-sectional dimensions of thedrawer are slightly less than the size of opening iii in order to permitfree inward and outward movement of the drawer, and the outer end wallor face i8 of the drawer is of such size as to fit relatively snuglywithin opening l6 when the case is closed, as shown in Fig. 2. The topIQ of the drawer is adiacent to the outer surface of section ii, whichserves as half the table top when the case is open, the outer surface ofsection I2 serving as the other half of the table top, all as shown inFig. 1. If

desired, these outer side walls may be covered with decorative fabric,as shown at 20.

Drawer i1 is supported for sliding movement by means of transversesupports 2| secured at their opposite ends to the end walls i5 ofsection II. The lower surface of drawer i1 is further provided with adrawer pull 24 and a spring locking element 25, all as shown in Fig. 3.Dishes and flatware are desirably carried in drawer ii, and conventionalstraps or other securing meansmay be employed for preventing movement ofthese articles while the case is being carried.

' Sections l l and ii are each provided with a pair of leg structures 21and 28 which are pivoted adiacent to walls 29, which walls 29 are theupper walls of the case when the same is closed, a handle structure 33being secured to wall 29 on section ii. Each leg is supported in asubstantially U shaped bracket 30 secured to end Walls IS, a pivot pin3| passing through the opposed walls of the bracket and the leg. Bracket30 is secured below edge 32, as shown in Fig. 4, in order that when thelegs are in closed position they will. lie entirely within the confinesof the case. The legs are rigidly maintained in open position by meansof a lever 35 which is centrally pivoted at 36 in walls 29. A link 38 ispivotally connected at one end thereof by means of a. pivot pin 39 withleg 21, and at its opposite end an angular extension 4| is connectedwith one end of lever 35 by means of a Pivot pin 42. A link 45 ispivotally connected with leg 28 by means of a pivot pin 46, and at itsopposite end an angular extension 41 is secured adiacent the oppositeend of lever 35 by means of a The 2 aaeasas is formed with a cut-outportion forming an edge serving as a locking bolt. When the legs are infully open position, edge I lies substantially in alignment with pivotpins 42 and I8, and when in this position such edge is engaged by aprojection 52 on a spring catch I3 secured at its inner end to wall 20by means of rivets 54. A headed plunger 55 is positioned within anaperture 58 in wall 20, the head engaging the inner suriace of springcatch 53, as shown in Fig. 6. When it is desired to release lever 35,the plunger 55 is moved inwardly, as shown in Fig. '7, thus causing a.projection 52 to leave edge 60 and permit the legs to be folded.

In order to give the several legs additional stability when in openposition, a second link 51 is pivotally secured at one end thereof, asat 58, to the leg at a point slightly below pivots 39 "d 46, and at itsopposite end link 51 is s .1122 at to an angle bracket 6i which isslightly spaced from each U shaped support 30. In section it a.generally rectangular metal box 53 may be positioned, such section alsobeing adapted to receive two or more folding chairs S5, and a thermosbottle 66 may be positioned at each end of box 64, thus completing thepicnic equipment assembly. When the case is in closed position, as shownin Fig. 2, the upper meeting edges thereof are secured by means ofconventional locking elements 61. The number of chairs which section i2may carry may be increased by making this section somewhat deeper thansection II.

What I claim is:

1. In a picnic outfit having a pair of complemental hinged sectionswhich when closed form a carrying case, and when opened form a tabletop, the combination of a leg structure at each corner area of the case,said leg structure bein foldable transversely completely into the opencase, and means for rigidly securing the legs in open table supportingrelation, said means comprising a lever which is centrally pivoted onthe position.

inner surface of each end wall of the open case,

a leg at a point spaced from the pivotal mounting of such leg, and meansreleasably securing such lever against movement.

2. In a table structure having a pair of complemental hinged sectionswhich when closed form a carryin case, and when opened form a table top,the combination of a leg structure at each corner of the open tablefoldable transversely completely into the open case, and means forrigidly securing the legs in open table supporting position comprising asubstantially centrally pivoted hinged lever, links connecting oppositeends of the lever with the legs, and stop means for securing the leverin open HENRY ROTHSCHILD.

